Are You Storing TOO Much? The High Cost of Keeping Everything & How to Save

It is no surprise that you may find it extremely difficult to part with your personal items. It happens to even the best of us, even if we have not used the item in the months prior to deciding whether we should toss or keep it.

Today’s statistics show that about 10 percent of all households have a storage unit. With that many people renting out storage units, what do they put in them? The average storage unit is filled with household items, items that people ran out of room for, extra furniture, college textbooks, and more.

While you may think that a storage unit is the answer to your space shortage problem, it is not always the best choice. Storage units are quite affordable, but the overall cost of them long-term may not be the best choice for you and your budget.

In 2016, the average cost of a storage unit in Pittsburgh was about $1.65 per square foot. Therefore, a 100 square foot unit would cost you $165 per month. Yikes!

Often, people use storage units because they simply procrastinate and do not want to deal with excess items they have. On the other hand, storage units are useful for those who need to move or store furniture while their home is renovated.

So, how can you cut the high cost of keeping all your items? Let’s look and see.

Take Advantage of Discounts and Skip the Extras

The first way to save on storage space is to take advantage of the discounts offered and skip any of the extra costs associated with the unit such as insurance or additional protection.

Many storage facilities offer a month free or a discounted first month’s rent as a new customer, so do take advantage.

Declutter BEFORE You Store

Yep, you read it and knew it was coming too. You MUST declutter your items BEFORE you store them. This means sitting down and going through all your stuff to find out what you want, what you can donate, and what you can throw out.

People often run into the problem of letting go of their items, however, if the item no longer brings you joy, you only need one of it, or you could repurchase it for cheap, toss it out.

Purge Everything and Store Only What MUST Be Stored

After you declutter, purge your items and try to find a spot for them in your home. If your home is out of room, store the items, but make do with the smallest unit you can for all your items. Remember, the larger the storage unit, the more it will cost you.

Don’t Store Your Items Just to Store Them

Yes, a storage unit sounds nice and it can provide you with extra room, but you do not want to use it as a substitute because it will get expensive over time. Only store the items that you truly need to store and either find a home for the others or toss them out.